Produce report June 25: Fruit and vege buys of the week

Bite

By Suzanne Dale

Lemons and mandarins are our fruit buys of the week. Try those mandarins in Jan Bilton's muffins, below, for a pleasing morning tea treat.

Tamarillos are full of flavour now and tasting sweet (well, as sweet as they ever are) but they are still rather pricey. Head to your local farmers' market for cheaper buys. Tamarillos really do make great winter desserts and Angela Casley's individual steamed tamarillo and ginger puddings are sure to please the family.

Leeks, green cabbages and brussels sprouts are good buying. For something different with cabbage, try Sachie Nomura's okonomiyaki. This Japanese-style pancake would make a great pizza alternative for one night this week.

Look out for cheap Mexican mangoes and punnets of pomegranate arils from India — a couple more (albeit imported) lifelines to bring a zing to winter food.